Trainings

Rosehip Medic Collective is prepared to offer an array of low-cost and/or free trainings and workshops to groups and individuals. We operate independently, training our own content from a queer and trans perspective, with trainers who come from a mix of healthcare, education, and other backgrounds. We can offer the below trainings as-is, modified, or occasionally with whole new content when requested. We do not confer certifications, but our trainings are recognized and respected in national street medic and other communities.

If you are interested in attending or scheduling a training with Rosehips, please email us at rosehipmedics@gmail.com. We cannot commit to show up everywhere we are asked, but attempt to do so–especially with adequate notice. Although we are all volunteers, we appreciate participants investing in their learning through monetary or alternate payment, which supports work within our collective and community. We turn no one away for lack of ability to pay.

TRAININGS WE OFFER

Safe and Healthy in the Streets (2-3 hours)

One of our most popular workshops, here we discuss ways to prepare yourself for the next demonstration, occupation, or whatever else may be on the horizon. We cover everything from the importance of buddies & warm layers (no cotton!) to jail support and the proper treatments for pepperspray/chemical weapons. Content and practice time varies with length of time allocated.

——-

Street Medic Training (20 hours)

We offer 20 hour street medic trainings several times a year. Our trainings are open to people of any skill level; we encourage EMTs to attend our trainings as strongly as we do people with no first aid background. Our trainings are holistic, focusing on preparation, actions, and aftercare, and our participants leave with useful tools whether they plan on medicking at every major summit protest or if they simply want basic first aid knowledge for their neighborhood. Our trainings are intensive, with one evening session and two long days, and include a lot of hands-on practice and realistic scenarios. We strive to make our trainings accessible, safe and supportive for all people, and will work with you beforehand to make sure your needs are met.

Red Flags, when to call 911, and how to interact with Emergency Medical Services

Police violence and chemical weapons

Use of herbs in the streets and for aftercare

Packing your first aid kit

And much more!

To find out about upcoming trainings, please visit our News page or email rosehipmedics@gmail.com to ask questions. If you are part of an organization or are planning an event that you desire a training for please email us, too.

Community Medic Training: (20 hours)

This 20 hour training is comparable to our Street Medic Training, but is more focused on the needs of the daily challenges faced by many of us whom are unable or feel unsafe accessing conventional (hospitals, clinics, 9-1-1) health resources. We look at less organized, more independent ways of addressing emergent or ongoing health issues experienced by our friends, family, and fellow community members–and focus on some of the most common health issues experienced by people of all ages.

Red flags for when to call 9-1-1 and ideas for how to support/advocate for friends with oppressed identities that are accessing healthcare systems

Chronic & acute illnesses

Packing your first aid kit

Herbs and other complementary modalities

People’s Disaster Readiness Training: (16 hours)

In the Northwest and globally we know there are increasing frequency and severity of disasters like earthquakes, floods, wildfires, drought, and storms. Numerous trainings exist for state, corporate, and survivalist ‘prepper’ groups. The Rosehips have designed this training to prepare individuals to approach disaster preparedness focused on identifying and supporting the most vulnerable in each of our geographic and social communities.

Along with practical skills, we want trainees to leave with more tools to teach and organize with their friends, family, and community groups to take care of one another when things get bad and we are unable to count on state or corporate resources to do so.

This training is more adaptable than our Street and Community medic trainings, designed to last 16 hours, but dividable into modules over several days. It is also designed with a train the trainers concept in mind–so that Rosehips are not required in order to re-offer this training within your own group or space. If you are interested in partnering with us on our ongoing development of this content and approach, please email us at rosehipmedic@gmail.com

——

Community Wellness Workshops (1-4 hours)

In addition to the 20-Hour Street Medic Trainings, we are always working to expand our repertoire of wellness-focused workshops. We currently offer four 1-2 hour long workshops that cover a range of topics, from protest preparation to foot fungus. We are always looking for ways to give these workshops, so please get in touch if you are interested in helping us make one happen!

We don’t give these workshops as regularly as the 20-Hour trainings, so be sure to check out the accompanying zines.

Basic First Aid

A customized 1.5-3 hour training on emergency assessment, basic first aid, and how to get help on some of the most common urgent health needs. We frequently involve other partnering groups in deciding what content is most relevant to their needs.

Home Remedies for Common Maladies

Home Remedies focuses on affordable remedies—prevention, herbal medicines, and more —for common illnesses and injuries, as well as identifying Red Flags to help guide you in deciding when to seek more definitive medical care or emergency medical services. Use our training and accompanying zine as a resource for yourself, your family, your house, or your neighborhood; the more care providers we have, the less we all have to depend on corporate medicine!

Traveler Troubles

For some of us it’s always traveling season, and for others of us trips come only once every few years. How ever often you make it out on the road, you will always benefit from knowing more about common traveling troubles. From the potential bugs and bellyaches found in crowded houses and unfamiliar kitchens to the rashes and funguses that appear in transit, the Rosehip Medics Collective hopes to offer DIY remedies to common ailments and rumor-busting red flags to help you decide when to seek medical attention. Scabies! Lice! Pinworms! Athlete’s foot! Yeast infections! Unsanitary food! Learn how to protect yourself when you’re exposed, as well as inexpensive, safer solutions to these common traveler problems.

Alternatives to Emergency Medical Services

In 2012 we completed a project researching, interviewing and analyzing providers of a wide variety of alternative emergency medical services. The report we compiled – an analysis of alternative emergency response systems around the country – focuses on systems built by communities historically underserved by mainstream emergency medicine, and draws lessons from these programs already in existence to envision new, community-based approaches to emergency medical care. Through this workshop, we hope to spark a larger dialogue about the accessibility of emergency care.

About

The Rosehip Medic Collective is a group of volunteer Street Medics and health care activists based in Portland, Oregon. For more info, check out Who We Are.